Liriano's first homer helps Padres beat Rockies

San Diego Padres' Yangervis Solarte high fives with Chris Nelson after scoring in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
The Associated Press

San Diego Padres' Yangervis Solarte high fives with Chris Nelson after scoring in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

San Diego Padres' Yangervis Solarte is safe at third as Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado applies a late tag in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. Solarte was advancing from first on a single by Jedd Gyorko and would score moments later on a single by Rene Rivera. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)The Associated Press

San Diego Padres' Yangervis Solarte is safe at third as Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado applies a late tag in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. Solarte was advancing from first on a single by Jedd Gyorko and would score moments later on a single by Rene Rivera. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Matzek works against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)The Associated Press

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Matzek works against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)The Associated Press

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In his third big league game, Rymer Liriano showed off his raw power in one of the more impressive ways possible at Petco Park.

Liriano's first big league homer was a two-run shot that helped the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Wednesday to tie their season-high with their fifth straight win. It traveled an estimated 427 feet and landed in the top deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner.

"It felt great," said Liriano, who was promoted from Triple-A El Paso on Monday. "I felt excited when I crushed the homer."

That, he did. It was the 14th homer hit to the top balcony of the Western Metal building since Petco opened in 2004, and the eighth by a Padres player.

"Third level Western Metal, that's always a good one," manager Bud Black said. "I like the fact he got to an inside fastball. The Rockies the first two days got him with some fastballs in. He turned on that one. We know that he's got the raw power. That showed up today on a fastball from a pitcher that was pitching inside pretty effectively all day. That was good to see."

Said Liriano: "I feel really comfortable when I get a fastball in. I'm excited. Some people say I don't ever hit a fastball in. I feel really good right now to hit a fastball."

Abraham Almonte also homered and Jedd Gyorko tied his career-high with four hits. The Padres are 16-8 since the All-Star break, including winning 11 of 14. The Padres swept a series for the third time this year, all at home.

The Rockies, who have the worst record in the majors at 18-44, struck out 13 times against Ian Kennedy (9-10) and four relievers, giving them 66 in their last six games.

"We've been striking out entirely too much lately," manager Walt Weiss said. "It's about competing when you get to two strikes."

Liriano's shot came off left-hander Tyler Matzek (2-8) and gave San Diego a 3-1 lead. Chris Nelson was aboard on a leadoff single.

Almonte homered to left with one out in the sixth, his first since being acquired in a trade with Seattle on July 31.

"The one to Liriano, I thought it was a good pitch," Matzek said. "He turned on it. It looked like he was sitting on that pitch. The one to Almonte, I was trying to go away and left it over the middle. That was probably a mistake pitch. He made me pay for it."

Kennedy struck out eight in six innings while allowing three runs and six hits, with two walks. Joaquin Benoit pitched the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.

The Rockies tied it the score 3-3 in the fourth with a leadoff homer to left by DJ LeMahieu, his fourth, and an RBI double to left by Justin Morneau.

The Padres popped back ahead on Yasmani Grandal's sacrifice fly in the fifth that brought in Gyorko, who hit a leadoff double.